During a Vatican meeting with Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Pope Leo XIV shared his hope to visit Vietnam.
Pope Leo XIV has expressed his wish to visit Vietnam in the near future, thanking Vietnamese leaders for their invitation and emphasizing his desire to strengthen ties with the Vietnamese Catholic Church and its followers, as well as to advance Vietnam-Vatican relations.
Pope Leo XIV welcomes Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan. Photo: MOFA
On June 30, as part of her working visit to Italy, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan paid a courtesy call on Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV warmly welcomed Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and shared that although he had only recently assumed his role, he was well informed of the positive developments in Vietnam–Vatican relations. He noted with pleasure that the two sides had recently elevated diplomatic ties to the level of a Permanent Representative of the Holy See in Vietnam.
The Pope expressed hope that both parties would continue to enhance dialogue, particularly through the Vietnam–Vatican Joint Working Group mechanism, to further develop relations in a way that meets the expectations of the faithful and serves the interests of both Vietnam and the Holy See.
On behalf of the Vietnamese Party and State leaders, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan congratulated Pope Leo XIV on being elected by the College of Cardinals and affirmed that Vietnam highly values and is willing to strengthen relations with the Holy See.
Photo: MOFA
The Vice President praised the guidance, messages, and teachings of successive Popes to the Vietnamese Catholic Church and invited Pope Leo XIV to continue supporting and promoting the positive Vietnam–Vatican relationship.
She also called on the Pope to guide and encourage the Vietnamese Catholic community to uphold the principles of “loving God, loving the homeland” and to live a “good life, good faith,” contributing actively to national development under the spirit of “The Vietnamese Church walks alongside the nation,” “A good Catholic is also a good citizen,” and “Living the Gospel in the heart of the nation for the happiness of the people.”
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and Pope Leo XIV. Photo: MOFA
The Vietnamese delegation meets with Pope Leo XIV. Photo: MOFA
On this occasion, Vice President Xuan conveyed an invitation from Vietnamese leaders for the Pope and Vatican officials to visit Vietnam in the near future.
Pope Leo XIV expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed his desire to visit Vietnam to deepen his connection with the Vietnamese Catholic community and further solidify Vatican–Vietnam relations.
That same day, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan also met with Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
She shared the positive outcomes of her meeting with Pope Leo XIV and proposed that both sides maintain the effective operation of the Vietnam–Vatican Joint Working Group.
Vietnam pledged to continue facilitating the pastoral missions of the Holy See’s Permanent Representative in Vietnam and to support his visits and engagements across the country.
The Holy See also encouraged the Vietnamese Catholic Church to promote the principles of “loving God, loving the homeland,” contributing meaningfully to the country’s development.
Congratulating Vietnam on its socio-economic achievements, Archbishop Gallagher expressed satisfaction with recent progress in Vietnam–Vatican ties and praised Vietnam’s religious policies.
Agreeing with Vice President Xuan’s proposals, he affirmed the Holy See’s commitment to strengthening relations and cooperating with Vietnam to organize future high-level visits.
During the meeting, both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Vietnamnet.vn
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